Jagged qualification graph: Candidate list shows education matters little in Haryana elections

Educational qualification mattered little for major political parties while giving tickets for the upcoming assembly elections in Haryana. Major parties have even put up illiterate nominees, though there are some who hold doctorates, reflecting the jagged education graph of the state.

Dillu Ram, Congress candidate from Guhla, and Bimla Chaudhary of the BJP, contesting from Pataudi, have both listed themselves as “illiterate” in the affidavit submitted for nomination. Gunpal of the BJP from Tosham has mentioned Class 1 as his highest qualification and so had Jaleb Khan, an incumbent chief parliamentary secretary fighting on Congress ticket from Hathin.

Aalam of the BJP fighting from Ferozepur Jhirka has just mentioned that he has “general knowledge about Hindi”. Shanti Devi of Haryana Jan Chetna party (HJCP), contesting from Israna, has mentioned her education as simply “nil”.

If one considers all major political parties, they have put up 39 candidates who are “below matric” the most such from the Haryana Janhit Congress-led alliance.

Ram Karan of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) from Shahbad, Nishan Singh of the INLD and Ramesh of HJC from Tohana, Ram Sarup Rama of HJC from Ratia, Ramniwas Rara of HJC from Barwala, Dariyo Singh of BJP from Jhajjar, Rajesh Kumar of HJC from Pataudi and Jagan Singh of HJC from Kaithal are just Class-5 pass. Mouji of HJCP from Beri and Aas Mohammed Khan of HJC from Faridabad are Class-6 pass. One ‘class’ above them are Deep Saini of HJC from Ladwa, Naresh Kumar of HJC from Jhajjar, Iqbal of BJP from Punahana, and Chander Bhatia of INLD from Badkhal. Subhash Sharma of the HJCP from Assandh is also just Class-7 pass but is chairman of the RK Education Society that runs institutions.

Makhan Lal Singla of the INLD from Sirsa has mentioned that he has studied up to “under middle”. The four main fronts have given tickets to 51 matriculates.

There is the odd case of “Dr” Hari Chand Middha of the INLD from Jind. He has mentioned his education as “matric” but has mentioned his profession as “doctor”.

On the higher side, the Congress, BJP, HJC alliance and INLD have put up 159 graduates and 46 post-graduates. And those who hold PhD are Ravi Mehla, Congress candidate from Pundri; Krishan Chander Bangar, INLD candidate from Gohana; Kuldeep Kakaran, BJP, Kharkhaunda; Dharminder Singh Dhull, Congress, Julana; Vandana Sharma, BJP, Safidon; and Abhey Singh Yadav, BJP candidate from Nangal Chaudhary.

Speaking of ministers

The incumbent technical education minister, Mahender Pratap Singh, who is contesting from Badkhal, has not completed his graduation and listed that he studied up to BA-2. Local bodies minister Savitri Jindal, who is contesting from Hisar, is a matriculate. Minister of state for labour Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, who is contesting as an Independent from Faridabad NIT, is “Class 10 fail”.

Rest of the ministers are either graduates or post-graduates.

CPS Anita Yadav, contesting from Ateli, has a diploma in pharmacy, while CPS Ram Kishen Fauji, contesting from Bawani Khera, is matric pass.